Paula Deen lawsuit moved to federal court

SAVANNAH — Attorneys for Savannah celebrity chef Paula Deen and her family run enterprises on Thursday asked to move a lawsuit filed by the former general manager at Uncle Bubba’s seafood house to federal court.

The action moved the case filed by Lisa T. Jackson from Chatham County Superior Court to U.S. District Court based on federal claims contained in an amended suit filed April 20.

The case has been assigned to Judge William T. Moore Jr.

Jackson claims in her initial suit that she was the victim of sexual harassment and a persistent pattern of racial discrimination in the workplace at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House Inc. on Whitemarsh Island. The restaurant is operated by Deen’s brother, Earl W. “Bubba” Hiers.

The action, agreed to by all of the defendants including Hiers, contends the proper place for the suit is federal court at Savannah, according to court documents dated Friday.

Included in the action are motions by both Deen and Hiers to dismiss and strike large portions of the case.

Jackson, who worked for Hiers for five years before leaving Aug. 19, 2010, complained of “violent behavior by Bubba Hiers, violent behavior that included sexual harassment as well as racial harassment, assault, battery and other humiliating conduct” on herself and other employees she managed.

The suit contends the conduct occurred “nearly every single day Ms. Jackson came to work over five (5) years.”

Attorneys for Deen and her enterprises, which include The Lady & Sons Restaurant, deny the allegations and charge the litigation is designed to damage Deen’s reputation and value of her businesses.

Jackson’s attorneys could challenge the move as improper and ask the federal judge to send the case back to Superior Court.